Machine for making bellows



Sept L 21 ,1926. 1 ,600,750

' F. K. BEZZENBERGER v MACHINE FOR MAKING BELLQWS Filed June 25, 1924 I /I w f v I INVENTOIIQI. Trad .K Be g'ggenbergeT T; was.

Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

1,600,750] UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED K. snz'znniznaenn, or CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, 01110, assienoa To THE FULTON COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE,-A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BELLOWS.

Application filed June 25, 1924. SerialPNo. 722,356.

I The present invention relates to a machine for making bellows, and is more particularly directed to certain improved apparatus for use in such a machine, such apparatus including rings or die elements against which the tended for use in a machine of the character described and claimed in my Patent No.

' 1,506.966, granted Sept. 2, 1924, and entitled Method of an apparatus for'inaking metallic walls. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of" the means hereinafter fully de scribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description setforth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosednieans constituting, however, but one of 'various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through .the dies for use in such a machine, this view showing the means for spacing and collapsing the dies partially in elevation; Fig. 2 is a transverse longitudinal section of F g.

i 1, this View being on an enlarged scale; Fig.

3 is a view in perspective showing the ends of the forming rings ;jFig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing on an enlarged scale the resilient means for maintaining the rings at right angles to the'support therefor; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating modification of the construction shown in Fig. '3.

The machine described in my patent is one for making hollow corrugated walls in which a tube is disposed within a series of split annular forming-rings and is then expanded outwardly into corrugations by internal hydraulic pressure, while at the same time the rings are brought toward each other to collapse the resulting corrugations and the tube is simultaneously collapsed lengthwise to produce a bellows.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a series of forming rings 1, together with means consisting of cam drums 2 for engagingthe rings andcontrolling their. spacing and movement. Each of the cam druins2 is provided with a series of spiral slots 3, 4, etc each of these receiving an extending finger or arm 5 on the outer side or and equidistant between the ends of each of the half rings 1. The I rings 1 are formed in two halves as shown in 2 and are supported against radial pressure by semi-cylindrical guides or supports 6 and v 7. These two supports are hinged to swing about an axis outside of the same (not. shown), this movement of the supports opening the rings and allowing either the; original tube to be inserted between the rings or the finished bellows to be removed therefrom. The cam drums and supports swing about the same axis with the rings.

In such a machine, where a very considerable internal pressure is applied, and where the rings are being collapsed axially of the tube during the application of this pressure. it has been found to be extremely difficult to so locate the two halves of therings together and to so support and move these rings that the halves will move -11'1 perfect unison, and will not bind upon their supporting guides nor-hinge at the point of en gageineiit between the two halves of the rings. It is practically impossible to make a machine which will operate satisfactorily at a commercial speed it any of the above objections are'preseiit, and if there is the slightest hinging action or looseness between the two halves of the ring at the points where they engage each other the finished bellows will show an irregularity at these points and thickening of the metal which renders them useless for sensitive work.

I have found it possible by the present construction-to maintain the two halves of the ring in a close engagement and to move these rings axially of the tube which is to be formed without any binding ofthe rings upon their supporting guides by using the tollov ii "4' construction.

The two halves or each ring are formed with interlocking parts, either of the form shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 5. In Fig. 3 I have shown the outer edge of the ring 1 slotted to permit the insertion of a tongue 10, which is then either riveted or Welded securely into place. This tongue engages within a cone sponding slot or recess 11 in the adjacent end of the other half ring; and is of sufficient size and of a closeness of fit which securely supports each of the half rings upon the other at this joint. Thissame joint is slots being cut at a different angle and each employed on both sides ofthe split rings.

' face The rings are supported against the cylindrical ide plates 6 and 7 and the inner sur- Ft hese guide plates is out upon a circle (as at 12) having a slightly greater radius than the radius of the rings, which results in the ring 1 standing slightly away from the inner surface of the guides 6 and 7, except at the rear of these guides, and along the surface. marked 13 in Fig. 4. This construction results. in concentrating the friction between the rings and guides at the side of and substantially opposite to the extending'arm 5 on the ring.- Each extending arm 5 is received 1n a groove in the cam drum 2, and-1t is the rotatlonof this drum which raises or lowers each ring through engagement with the arm so that the force act-ing to move the ring along the support is concentrated at the same point that the frictional resistance is concentrated, and as a result there is no couple set up tending to 'tilt the rings or to rock them, and the rings so that'the action of this spring is to maintto the'surface of the supports by the springs the combination of two semi-circular eletain the ring ina plane at anglesto the axis of the rings-and supports.

In this construction each half-ring isfirst positioned by the cam drum, the two complementary halves of each ring being brought into the same plane so that theyv may be accurately fitted together upon be: ing swung abouttheir axis with the tongue 10fitting into theslot 11. When so joined each ring is practically solid, the tongues and slots supporting the registering ends against any tendency to move out of position. The rings are also held at right angles I 15,- so that registrationis greatly insured,

rings are moved as a unit, the friction of the half rings .occurring practically in line with the application of the actuating force on the arms 5. 1

Othermodes of applying the principle v of my invention may be employed instead of I therefore particularly. point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a series of parallel splitforming rings having extensions therefrom at diametrically opposite points, actuating.-

Upon actuation of the camdrums the means engaging said extensions and adapted to move said rings axially, and means sup.- porting said rings against radial pressure, said means engaging said rings adjacent said actuating means. T 1 Y 2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of parallel split axially movablwforming-rings having ex--. tens1ons therefrom at diametricallyopposite points, actuating means engaging said extensions-and adapted to move said rings I axially, andsupports for said rings, said supports including elements disposed adjacent. said" extensions and engaging said 'rings, at the portion of their surface closely adjacent said extensions.

v 3. In-apparatus of the character described,

the combination of two semi-circular ele.

ments constituting a ring, means supporting said elements at points equidistant between their ends, and other means maintaining said elements in engagement in the same 'plane.

4. In apparatusof the character described, the combination of 'two semi-circular ele-' mentsconstituting a ring, means supporting said elements at point-s equidistant be" tween their ends, mounted on the edges of said two'elements, said means guiding the same jinto engagement in the same plane, and other means normally maintaining said elements in. sub stantially'the same plane, said means beingyieldable to permit said first named means to become eifectivef interengaging means the combination o'f two semi-circular ele--' .ments constituting a .ring, a semi-circular support for':each of said elements, said support engaging the outer central portion of said element and havinganopening therethrough, an extension fo'n each element ex tending through such opening, and movable means engaging said extension for actuating said element.

. 6. In apparatus of the character described,

ments-const-ituting a ring, a; semi-circular support for each of said elements, said support engaging theouter central portion of said element and having an opening therethrough, an extension on each elementex engaging said extension for moving said tending through such. opening, resilient ,1 means normally maintaining said element at,right angles to said support, and means 12o element in a direction parallel to s'aid-supsupport for each of said elements, saidsupport engaging the outer central portion of said element and having an opening there through, an extension oneach element ex 1U '5. In apparatus. of thecharacter'deseribed, l I

- tending through such opening, interengaging means on the meeting edges of said elements, and means normally maintaining said elements in the same plane.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of parallel splitiorming rings, means separately supporting the sections of each ring, and means on the meeting ends of the sections whereby the sections are interlocked in a plane against relative movement.

9..In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of parallel split forming rings, means separately sup porting the sections of each ring, means cooperating with the ring sections and the supports for normally maintaining said ring sections at right angles to their axis, and

means on the meeting ends of thesections whereby the sections are interlocked. in a plane against relative movement.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of parallel' split forming rings, means separately supporting the sections of each ring, means cooperating with the ring sections and the supports for normally maintaining said ring' sections at right angles to-their axis, and

means'on the meeting ends of the sections whereby the sections are interlocked in a plane against relative movement,'sa id firstnamed means being yieldable to permit the interlocking of said lastnamed means.

11. In apparatus of the character de-.

scribed, the combination of. a -plurality of parallel split forming rings, extensions on 1 the sections of the rings, actuating means engaging said extensions. and adapted to move said rings axially, and'means supporting said ring sections only adjacent said extensions.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of parallel split forming rings, extensions pro jecting midway between-the ends of the ring sections, actuating means engaging said extensions and adapted to move said rings said extensions and adapted tomove said rings axially, and semi-circular supports embracing said rings and provided with apertures through which said extensions pro ject into engagement with said actuating means, said supports having a larger radius of curvature than said ring sections and en gaging said ring sections only adjacent said extensions,

14. In apparatus of the character'de l scribed, the combination of a plurality of,

parallel split forming rings, means on the adjacent endsof the ring sectionsfor locking the sections of each ring against relative movement, extensions projecting mid-"' way of the length ofeach ofthe ring sections, actuating means engaging said ex:

tensions andada pted to move said rings axially and supports for said ring sections f engaging the same only adjacent said ex-' t8I1S10l1S.'

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of parallel split forming. rings, means on the so adjacent ends of'the ring sections for lock ing the sections of eaeh ring againstmela ti've movement, extensions pro ecting midway of the length .of each of the ring sections, actuating means engagin said extensi'ons and adapted to move sal rings axialthe same only adjacent said extensions, and

- yielding means between said ring sections and supports normallymaintaining the. ring sections, at right angles, to their axis; but yieldable to permit the interlocking of said sections. i

Signed by me, this 28th dayof June, 1924.

' FRED K. BEZZENBERGER.

ly, supports for said ring sectionsengaging f 

